Littoral Rebirth

by Oormila Prahlad

I lay supine 
consciousness parched 
in the wake
of your leaving
when it came to me 
from the distance -
the bracing air
of a shuddering ocean
diffusing into my cells 
its relentless boom
and thunder
holding together
the flotsam of my days.

westerlies racing
through horse latitudes  
chopped 
through humid air
cooling my gurgling chest 
a chasm
you cleaved wide open
mangled harp strings 
reeking of rust.

the evening morphed
in a well
of aquamarine
blue salt of the moon
ascending
as sand sizzling in the ocean
swirled
surged and sifted
filling the hollow of my torso 
padding me whole again
and I rose
poised for rebirth 
taste of shingle and sea salt 
an elixir 
upon my lips.